Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers 3)

“No. But you gotta admit you spend a lot of time just hanging out.”

“I went shopping with Sam and Aria this week.”

He nods. “Good. I’m glad you’re getting out.”

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asks me.

“Nothing much. We were able to get Monday’s prep done, and we’re all cleaned up.”

“Good. I was hoping to talk to both of you.” He holds out his hand and guides me to a table, Aspen following along behind us.

“You’re kind of freaking me out right now,” I admit. I glance at my sister, who is also wearing a worried expression.

“It’s not bad, but I’m not sure you’ll see it that way at first. That’s why she’s here.” He points at Aspen. “I might need backup, and she can keep you from attacking me.” He winks at us.

“Spill it, Riggins,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Earlier this week, Monday, in fact, I was talking to Royce, and it hit me that there was something that I needed to do.”

“Okay?” I say cautiously.

He reaches out and takes my hands in his. “I love you, Aurora. Deep in here.” He places his hand gently over his heart. “I want a life with you. I want to see this place succeed. I want you and Aspen both to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Not only that, but I want to be here to watch it happen. You’re my family.” He glances at my sister. “You’re my little sister, and you… well, one day, I hope that you’ll be my wife.”

I gasp, and Aspen sniggers. “See why I needed you?” he asks her. She holds up her hand and offers him a high-five that he returns.

“I have something for you, but I need you to hear me out. Can you do that?”

I nod. I don’t know where this conversation is going, but the butterflies that only he causes are going about a thousand miles a minute as he reaches into his back pocket and produces an envelope.

“What’s that?” I can’t help but ask.

“Open it.” He hands it to me and sits back in his chair.

I can feel his eyes on me as I pull the document out of the envelope and begin to read. I read the first paragraph a million times, sure that it’s the tears in my eyes that have me reading this wrong.

“W-What did you do?” I ask him.

“It’s your baby. I bought the building. You don’t have to worry about being kicked out, or finding a new place, or even paying rent. I know that money is tight until this shit that Elijah caused is worked out, but I had to do something. You wouldn’t let me help you, and I need to. It’s yours,” he says again.

“You can’t buy me a building.”

“I can. I did. It’s all legal and in your name. I just need you to sign this paper.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then, I’ll have Aspen do it.” He looks over at my sister with a look of pleading. He wants her to agree to this.

“Grant, this is crazy.”

“No, it’s not. What’s crazy is that you’re refusing to let me help you. Let me ask you this. If it were me in your situation, and you were in mine, if you had the means to help me, what would you do?”

My shoulders sag. “I don’t want to be your burden.” I know as soon as I say the words that they’re wrong. I know Grant would never think of me that way. I guess old habits die hard. Will I ever be rid of the negativity that Elijah made me believe? Made me feel?

“Baby, look at me.”

I keep my eyes downcast in my lap as hot tears burn my eyes. I hear him rustling around, but I refuse to look up. I hate that he’s seeing me cry. Again. I’m tired of feeling weak. That’s not who I am anymore, but my tears say otherwise.

“Oh my God,” my sister breathes.

My head jerks up, and I see Grant with his T-shirt off, sitting on the table. My eyes go to his chest, and that’s when I see it. “Grant.” I reach out to touch him but quickly pull my hand away. “What did you do?”

“I wanted a piece of you with me always. You’re always telling me that I give you butterflies, and you do the same for me. You’re my butterfly, my magic.” He moves in close, grabbing my hands again. “I love you. I want to build a life with you, a family. Please don’t be mad at me for doing this. I can afford to buy this building twenty times over, and I would if that’s what I needed to do to help you.”

“You got a tattoo. Of a butterfly.”

“I did, but it’s more than just a butterfly, Aurora. It’s you.”